SportPesa, Kenya’s leading betting brand, has undergone a significant ownership shift following a recent transaction involving its holding company, Milestone Games Limited. Records indicate that firms registered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) now control a majority stake, relegating SportPesa’s original founders, Ronald Karauri and Robert Macharia, to minority shareholders.

Change in Ownership Structure

Commtech Consortium Ltd, a UAE-registered company, has acquired a 25% share in Milestone Games, becoming the second-largest shareholder. Meanwhile, Techglow Ltd holds the majority stake through an investment vehicle named Nob Five Ltd. Both companies lack a public presence, and due to Ras Al Khaimah’s free zone confidentiality rules, the ultimate beneficiaries behind these entities remain undisclosed.

Links Beyond Betting

Commtech Consortium previously held a 22.5% stake in Konvergenz Network Solutions, the firm behind Kenya’s KES 104.8 billion Social Health Authority digital platform. The company has since transferred this stake to another UAE-registered entity, Starway Trading Ltd, raising concerns over the transparency of these transactions and potential conflicts between state contracts and offshore ownership.

Background and Legal Challenges

  • In 2019, a tax dispute with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) over alleged offshore transfers led to the revocation of the original SportPesa operator’s license.
  • In 2020, the SportPesa trademark was transferred to a UK-based entity for £100,000 and subsequently licensed to Milestone Games, marginalizing minority shareholders.
  • The company has faced prolonged legal battles, including controversies involving forged court orders.

Current Financial and Regulatory Landscape

SportPesa continues to face financial pressures. In April 2026, KRA attempted to freeze KES 1 billion in company accounts over alleged unpaid taxes, but Milestone Games successfully challenged the move in the Tax Appeals Tribunal. Meanwhile, Kenya’s betting industry remains robust, with KES 330.5 billion wagered in the year ending June 2026.

July 2026 saw the introduction of the Gambling Control Act, replacing the former regulator with the Gambling Regulatory Authority. The new body has enhanced powers to oversee licensing and financial compliance, signaling tighter scrutiny of the sector.

As regulatory oversight intensifies, the true ownership behind Techglow and Commtech Consortium may soon become clearer, ending a period of considerable opacity.